There's just no gentle way of saying this. Right-wing conservatives in the Virginia House of Delegates have, yet again, failed us all.How on earth can Virginia continue to empower this pack of crybabies by giving them a majority? People who hate government should not be put in charge of it, and they obviously can't govern.
Virginians elected Tim Kaine Governor for a number of reasons; chief among them, Virginia's transportation system is in a death spiral. It's no exaggeration to say that the state will soon run out of money for new projects and will barely have funds for maintenance. It's no exaggeration to say that growth in Virginia will continue unabated, swamping and overwhelming our already strained roadways.
Kaine has done everything he could to make an historic investment in the future of Virginia, and right-wing, House conservatives have foiled him. Why should these reactionaries care about Virginia's choking roadways? If we don't hold them accountable at the ballot box, there's no reason at all.
[UPDATE: If you think this isn't a matter of life and death, check out this MSNBC article about hurricane evaucation. If you thought it was tough getting out of Houston for Hurricane Rita, wait until some nasty lady starts creeping up the coast towards DC. Global warming promises to make every year's hurricane season worse than the last.
Tim Kaine came in to office working hard to build a coalition of interests to move Virginia towards a solid plan to address the growing transportation crisis. Democrats in the House and Senate believe, strongly believe, in responsible government, as do Republicans in the Senate. The House Republican majority on the other hand, believes, deeply believes, in gridlock.
Next week, a budget will finally pass through the legislature, it will include nothing solid for transportation. House Republicans have held the line for irresponsible government, gridlock, and decaying roads.
This year Democrats, Progressives, Independents, Moderates, and real Republicans have the chance to clean house at the federal level, by ousting extremist, reactionaries who have proven they can't govern. Next year, we will get a chance to kick these churlish children out of the Virginia statehouse as well. The next time you're stuck in traffic, waiting to get home to your kids, a ballgame, a walk in the park or just a nice evening, remember that there's never been a group of Virginians more deserving of being removed from office than Republicans in the Virginia House of Delegates, and next year make sure to hold them accountable. Remove them from power. They deserve it.
Now these 2 moderates are in lock step with the right wingers. It is encumbant on the Newport News Democratic Party to find attractive and viable candidates to take both men on next year!